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February 28, 2013

Historical New Adult: The Heiresses by Allison Rushby

In our efforts to include every possible genre and follower, here is a small featurette on Historical New Adult. As this genre is newly coined I'm sure that we've all read informal New Adult novels in the past whether it's Regency romance or turn of the century novels. After all, women in the past usually skip their YA years as they're married off by the time they hit puberty and are already ridden with children before they get past 20.

But there are some previously printed novels that falls loosely under New Adult. Anna Godberson's Luxe Seriesis one of those and I'm guessing her other series, Bright Young Things, might also fall under the genre.

Fellow Godbersen fan, Allison Rushby, just launched her 20's flapper, New Adult series, The Heiresses, last January 7, 2013, as a six-episode series featuring a set of triplets. What's good about this serial is that you can start with the shorts, get a feel of things to see if you like it before getting the novel itself. On May 7, 2013, the novel will be released by St. Martin's Press. Here Allison sharing a bit of trivia on the making-of The Heiresses.

THE HEIRESSES

Three triplets—sisters estranged since birth—are thrust together in glittering 1926 London to fight for their inheritance, only to learn they can’t trust anyone—least of all each other.

When three teenage girls, Thalia, Erato and Clio, are summoned to the excitement of fast-paced London—a frivolous, heady city full of bright young things—by Hestia, an aunt they never knew they had, they are shocked to learn they are triplets and the rightful heiresses to their deceased mother's fortune. All they need to do is find a way to claim the fortune from their greedy half-brother, Charles. But with the odds stacked against them, coming together as sisters may be harder than they think.

After quickly settling into their aunt’s London townhouse, the girls soon meet their half-brother, Charles, an up-and-coming politician who would like nothing better than to see them disappear and his family name left intact. He refuses to bestow any of their inheritance upon them unless all three leave the city for good. The girls decide to form a united front and fight Charles together. However, when Clio—desperate for money for the ailing mother who adopted her—approaches Charles without telling anyone, she finds out a secret so shocking it could change everything forever.

Relationships are strained as keeping secrets begins to take a toll. With each sister now having something to gain, but even more to lose, they each need the inheritance money more than ever. But when their lies are finally revealed, who will the winner be?

Intoxicated by the city, Thalia receives attention for her wild behaviour and society begins to ask questions. In the meantime, the final sister—desperate to impress her crush with her status—approaches Charles for money. But what game will Charles play now that he knows the sisters are all willing to betray one another?

Disgusted with Charles and his cruel tricks, the girls finally agree to band together in hopes of finding another way to win the fortune from Charles. However, when Thalia runs into trouble at a party and one of her sisters has her sent away, it divides the girls even more fiercely than before. Only a chance encounter which reveals a shocking truth about their mother might be able to bring them together to defeat Charles—once and for all.

With a wedding on the cards, the future looks bright, despite the sisters now doubting they will ever claim their mother's fortune from Charles. But when the threesome realize they have overlooked a key person in their quest and a series of terrible events occur, the true owner of the entire fortune is finally revealed and the girls' destinies are changed forever.

Having failed at becoming a ballerina with pierced ears (her childhood dream), Allison Rushby tried writing instead. This is working out a lot better for her as it means she can sit on her backside most of the day and eat a lot more than a ballerina ever could. Plus, she can wear her pyjamas until midday and her book, movie ticket and DVD purchases are tax deductions. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Over the past ten years, she has published five books for young adult readers and five for adult readers in the women’s fiction genre. She is originally from Brisbane, Australia, but spent 2011 and most of 2012 living in Cambridge, UK, where she mainly spent her days whingeing constantly about the weather.